Case Studies
Search through the DemLabs blog, where we drill into case studies
applying affordable technology to help progressive causes.
Minimum wage. Filibuster. Cult followers. This week’s top cartoons.
Republicans give billions in tax cuts to wealthy donors but use the filibuster to deny working Americans a living wage. They gerrymander and deny the …
Minimum wage. Filibuster. Cult followers. This week’s top cartoons. Read More »
How to FOLLOW THE MONEY driving politicians
Oil and gas built and enriched Texas, and with that its politicians, including those who became president. But none has reaped campaign contributions on the …
For The People. Mapping how H.R. 1 fights voter suppression.
“We the People deserve a responsive, accountable government that gives us all a stronger voice and puts our needs ahead of special interests. Congress must …
For The People. Mapping how H.R. 1 fights voter suppression. Read More »
Bickering. Conspiracy theories. Beach time. This week’s top ten political cartoons.
The top ten Political Cartoons this week showcase Republican bickering, conspiracy theories and beach time. Check out these cartoons in two new formats: as a GIF on …
Bickering. Conspiracy theories. Beach time. This week’s top ten political cartoons. Read More »
Make videos the easy way. Free app includes hundreds of royalty-free video clips and soundtracks.
Videos get six times more traction on Facebook! Learn how to quickly and easily create videos for free with Lumen5. We created a 25 second …
Fighting disinfo? Coordinate a rapid response with shared talking points.
Disinfo requires a rapid, broad spread response. Get talking points to supporters for them to spread the truth and have their messages reinforce each other. …
Fighting disinfo? Coordinate a rapid response with shared talking points. Read More »
From Russian With Love: Disinformation Playbook
Study disinformation plays in order to defend against them such as how they are used to dodge questions with counter-accusations, use what-about-ism to justify terrible …
Listen to the experts. Subscribe to the Digital Politics Podcast.
Learn about new approaches and best practices from experts in digital politics. Use the free Wakelet app to increase your online presence without any programming.
Impeachment Illustrated – McConnell Edition
“He’s guilty… but I’ll acquit him”. These Political Cartoons help understand how low Mitch will stoop for power.DeepakDemLabs Mitch McConnell acquits Trump (GIF) McConnell Acquits …
How well do you understand redistricting? Take this quiz.
Many states allow public input to make sure district maps are drawn fairly. Check you understanding with this online quiz? “Redistricting affects whether the nation’s …
How well do you understand redistricting? Take this quiz. Read More »
NO PROFILES IN COURAGE. This week’s top political cartoons.
The top ten Political Cartoons this week best capture the Republican hypocrisy and cowardice on display. John F. Kennedy described political bravery in his Pulitzer …
NO PROFILES IN COURAGE. This week’s top political cartoons. Read More »
Reach more people. Caption and translate videos.
Increase the impact of your videos. Reach the one in five Americans who do not speak English and others who prefer to watch videos on …
Reach more people. Caption and translate videos. Read More »
Guard against hackers. Reduce your digital footprint.
Reduce the amount of public information that hackers can find about you online to disrupt your work, harass you and steal confidential information. What can …
Guard against hackers. Reduce your digital footprint. Read More »
COVID and hunger collide. Mapping who gets stimulus payments.
Who will get COVID-19 stimulus checks? Some want to limit relief to those making less than $50,000. Who would suffer?
Organizing resistance against Republican State Senators’ scheme to suppress Georgia voters
“Georgia Republicans have proposed a fresh round of measures to increase voter suppression and limit participation. Hiding under the guise of making sure “legal” votes count, Republican lawmakers want to …
Want to make your vote count? Learn how to draw redistricting maps.
All votes are equal. Some are just more equal than others. It all depends on how voting districts are drawn. And that’s how some politicians …
Want to make your vote count? Learn how to draw redistricting maps. Read More »
Double-talk. Denial. Stupidity. This week’s best political cartoons.
This week’s top ten political cartoons lampoon Republican double-talk, denial and stupidity. “Ridicule is man’s most potent weapon” – Saul Alinsky “It is almost impossible …
Double-talk. Denial. Stupidity. This week’s best political cartoons. Read More »
Answer tough questions on Zoom without breaking a sweat
You’re stumped by a question on Zoom. What do you do? Use an on-screen teleprompter so an assistant can help you with the answer. You …
Answer tough questions on Zoom without breaking a sweat Read More »
How to win friends and influence people – with free internet service
Disinformation kills. It poisons minds with COVID conspiracy theories and distrust of health experts. It is worst in poor, rural communities where people do not …
How to win friends and influence people – with free internet service Read More »
Activists Take On Prison Industrial Complex
“Regions Bank Of Alabama Turns Its Back On CoreCivic” Morgan Simon’s article in Forbes.com inspired us to explore how strategic activism works. How did community …
Fight negative media stereotypes
Media stereotypes perpetuate racism. Let’s tackle diversity and representation one photo at a time. Images influence our perception of people and issues, which over time …
Some people are especially ‘interesting’. Keep info on them handy with a dossier. Wakelet is a free app that makes it easy to create and …
Memory loss, impeachment & hope. This week’s best political cartoons.
Political cartoons explain things as they are with humor. This week’s top ten cover impeachment, political excuse making, Q-Anon and Game Stop.
Cause of death: Could not afford internet access.
Lack of internet access can be fatal. That’s partially why people of color are twice as likely to die from COVID-19 than White Americans. Health …
Cause of death: Could not afford internet access. Read More »
Fighting disinformation? Eighteen free weapons for your arsenal.
Fighting disinformation? Use all the tools in your arsenal. Here are eighteen of the best. Disinformation basics Disinformation attacks involve these tactics according to Harmony …
Fighting disinformation? Eighteen free weapons for your arsenal. Read More »
Who’s getting rich dividing Americans?
Karl Marx would smile if he could see how American billionaires get richer from their platforms that incite people to attack their own government and …
Prepare activists to demand fair redistricting in virtual Town Halls
Public hearings give activists an opportunity to push for fair voting district boundaries. How can activists be equipped with the facts to make their demands …
Prepare activists to demand fair redistricting in virtual Town Halls Read More »
Riots. Pardons. Change. The week in political cartoons.
This momentous week as captured in Political Cartoons. These ten cartoons best cover the siege of the Capitol and political aftermath. DeepakDemLabs Thin Blue Line …
Riots. Pardons. Change. The week in political cartoons. Read More »
NAACP Atlanta Gets-Out-The-Vote with relational organizing
Increased Black voter turnout was key to Senator Warnock and Ossoff’s victories in Georgia. NAACP Atlanta worked with a broad coalition of partners to increase …
NAACP Atlanta Gets-Out-The-Vote with relational organizing Read More »
Trying to reach more people? Use non-political headlines.
What gets read? What gets skipped? It all starts with the headline. How do you get your message read by more people across the political …
Trying to reach more people? Use non-political headlines. Read More »
Stories poisoned to spread disinformation
Disinformation is the new battlefield. Why fight when you can manipulate your adversary into fighting itself? Beware of fairy tales poisoned with disinformation.
Activists use relational organizing to push for reusable COVID masks
For Our Kids Montréal taking community action, demanding a green and just recovery from the Quebec government – September 2020.
Follow the corporate funding behind sedition and violence
“Millions of people had to be whipped into a frenzy over bogus charges of voter fraud and a critical mass of them had to be …
Follow the corporate funding behind sedition and violence Read More »
Fighting dark forces online? Focus on the tech vendors they need to spread hate.
Parler is being forced to change tech platforms after being ejected from Amazon AWS, Google Play Store and Apple App Store. How can tech firms …
Fighting dark forces online? Focus on the tech vendors they need to spread hate. Read More »
How YouTube makes money selling ads next to videos of the U.S. Capitol being attacked
Mobs attack the U.S. Capitol and threaten elected officials with death. YouTube profits from the violence, but do its advertisers know what they are paying …
How YouTube makes money selling ads next to videos of the U.S. Capitol being attacked Read More »
Go to the root of a problem. Direct public outrage against the corporate donors supporting politicians inciting violence and sedition.
Trumpland? Meet the Republicans and their corporate donors trying to overturn election results.
“Eleven Republican senators and senators-elect said that they would vote to reject President-elect Joseph R. Biden Jr.’s victory … to defy the unambiguous results of …
Pardon or execute? How wealth trumps justice.
The Republican Trump administration has pardoned dozens of wealthy supporters while rushing to execute poor people of color. We analyzed forty cases of pardons and …
Make sure Zoom events go smoothly with the free BigStage Teleprompter to keep all your presenters to the script and on schedule.
Smartphone cameras are weapons against voter suppression. Take photos of poll tapes at voting centers after the polls have closed to help preserve election integrity.
Looking for your Georgia run-off voting location? Call, text or use this app.
This mobile app can be used from a phone, laptop or tablet computer to look up the phone number of a County Election official.
Horse racing over COVID relief? Thank Mitch and Citizens United.
This cruel cycle involves the super-rich funding politicians who stack the courts to give more power to the rich and disenfranchise the poor. This leads …
Horse racing over COVID relief? Thank Mitch and Citizens United. Read More »
Redistricting: What to know now
Political districts are supposed to be revised to to reflect population changes but instead they’re being manipulated. Politicians in gerrymandered districts ignore their voters knowing …
Relational organizing in action
Campaigns reach more people for less money with relational organizing. They ask supporters to text messages to their friends and post to their social media …
The activist’s guide to creating videos quickly, easily with free apps
Videos get three times as much exposure on social media than just words. Making videos has been slow, expensive and complicated – leaving it beyond …
The activist’s guide to creating videos quickly, easily with free apps Read More »
The poor die when justice is sold to the highest bidder. Some stories require little description. This is one of them. How fairly is justice …
Mark Hamill phone banks to fight voter suppression in Georgia
How can volunteers be organized remotely to help others vote? How can celebrities support a cause? How can phone banks be energized with video streaming? …
Mark Hamill phone banks to fight voter suppression in Georgia Read More »
You’re about to vote early. Where’s the closest location in your county? When is it open? How do you get there? Vote Georgia makes it …
Stick to your script. Use an on-screen teleprompter.
Look ’em in the eye and deliver your message forcefully. It’s easier with an on-screen teleprompter. Keep your audience engaged with an on-screen teleprompter to …
Stick to your script. Use an on-screen teleprompter. Read More »
We’re texting in the name of the Lord
The Lord may work in mysterious ways, but it’s pretty clear his flock at the Friendship Baptist Church in Atlanta are fired up. Volunteers in …
See Something, Say Something. Georgia.
Voter suppression has evolved. The systems used to track and respond to it need to keep pace. How can voters be empowered to report incidents …
Amplify your message with online volunteer flashmobs
Have supporters synchronize their Facebook posts and tweets to reach more people.
GOTV Concerts organizes virtual concerts featuring Georgia musicians to get out the vote
Music concerts have moved online. Savvy political organizers are teaming with local artists to organize regional get out the vote events with BigStage and video …
GOTV Concerts organizes virtual concerts featuring Georgia musicians to get out the vote Read More »
Mobile app showing Georgia dropbox locations created in hours with free software and crowdsourcing
Voters need information fast in a form that’s easily used. Phone based apps work well, but often take a lot of time and money to …
Congresswomen Deb Haaland energizes Native Americans voters in Georgia from the BIG STAGE
“Very few of Georgia’s more than 100,000 voting-age Native Americans cast ballots in November. Even a small increase could make a difference in the Senate …
How YouTube spreads COVID Disinformation
290,000 Americans have already died from COVID-19, yet people protest wearing masks and are skeptical of vaccinations. How does disinformation manipulate people into risky behavior? …
Mobilize poor, rural voters without internet or cell coverage using VOICEBOTS
The lack of connectivity disenfranchises rural voters by making it harder for them to learn about candidates, register to vote, find details on voting locations …
Mobilize poor, rural voters without internet or cell coverage using VOICEBOTS Read More »
How BLUE FUTURE uses textbots to mobilize young voters in Georgia
Young voters are a key voting group with many voting for the first time. Group with little time, money and staff can mobilize young voters …
How BLUE FUTURE uses textbots to mobilize young voters in Georgia Read More »
Who profits from denying internet access to rural America?
Internet access during COVID-19 impacts everything Access to learning, healthcare, employment opportunities… Swipe the map to see how internet access influences your health & wealth.
Zoom performance anxiety? Follow these expert tips.
It covers all the bases, from script writing, body language, and interactive technology like BigStage, to how to organize your screen and where to look …
Zoom performance anxiety? Follow these expert tips. Read More »
Voting in Georgia? Map of early voting locations.
Map of Georgia early voting locations This map is designed with information collected by Reclaim Our Vote and created with ArcGIS. It is freely available …
Voting in Georgia? Map of early voting locations. Read More »
Vaccinate against disinformation
Foreign interference and domestic politics use disinformation to divide, incite. and manipulate. It’s cheap, effective and hard to counter. Learn how to spot it and …
Innovating to get-out-the-vote in Georgia
NAACP Atlanta and Reclaim Our Vote to text a million Georgia voters using Text Per Cent which slashes costs and also provides details on the …
How to spot BS being used to manipulate public opinion
“Instead of trying to combat each leak directly, we should teach the public to tell when they are being manipulated. Americans should be taught the …
How to spot BS being used to manipulate public opinion Read More »
Mitch’s scheme to tax without representation
McConnell aims to cling to power by creating an American underclass that pays taxes but cannot vote and gets no benefits. His scheme overturns the …
How to spot a disinformation zombie
Disinformation is a cruel tactic to grab power by tricking people into voting against their self-interest and safety. Learn how it works and how to …
Create online training with free, easy-to-use apps
How does a group with little money and few technical skills create online training courses? Free innovative new software!
How to design smart route plans for canvassing, campaigns and non-profits.
Design smart routing plans with ArcGIS to make the most of your resources and reach the most people with the least time, effort and money. …
How to design smart route plans for canvassing, campaigns and non-profits. Read More »
How relational organizing helps Georgia voters learn about acceptable forms of voter ID
Relational organizing uses volunteers’ existing relationships with friends. It’s cost effective and being used to inform Georgia voters about acceptable forms of Voter ID.
Fundraising through ZOOM events made easy
ZOOM makes it easy to connect, but how do you get supporters to take the next step and donate? How can they do this while …
Map 2020 voter turnout and votes cast by Georgia county to hone your get-out-the-vote efforts
How to map voter turnout and votes cast by Georgia county to hone your get-out-the-vote efforts.
Little Sis tracks the political connections and lobbying of the ultra-rich and corporations
Who do the wealthiest Americans donate their money to? Where did White House officials work before they were appointed? Which lobbyists are married to politicians? …
A map is worth 5,000 words to find unregistered Georgia voters
Which counties have the most unregistered voters? How does a county’s racial composition impact how many residents get to vote? Where should organizers focus to …
A map is worth 5,000 words to find unregistered Georgia voters Read More »
Hit the road to mobilize rural Black voters in Georgia
The most critical Georgia voters are the hardest to reach and mobilize because of lack of internet and transportation. Help mobilize them with Reclaim our …
Hit the road to mobilize rural Black voters in Georgia Read More »
What kind of voting machine processed your ballot?
Different types of voting machines are dispersed through out the country, see what type of voting machine was used in your county or congressional district …
What kind of voting machine processed your ballot? Read More »
Keep ’em honest. Photograph publicly displayed poll tapes of the vote count.
Photograph poll tapes at polling places on election night and check the vote totals against the official vote totals to catch any errors.
How The Lincoln Project converts voters into citizen reporters
Voters become citizen reporters with SeeSay2020 to spotlight incidents of voter suppression making it easier for voting right advocates and the media to react quickly.
Don’t even think about intimidating voters. State laws and penalties.
Federal law prohibits voter intimidation. The right of each voter to cast his or her ballot free from intimidation or coercion is the foundation of …
Don’t even think about intimidating voters. State laws and penalties. Read More »
Trust but verify. Take photos of poll tapes to make sure vote counts add up correctly.
Photograph poll tapes at the polling place on election night. Check the vote totals against the official vote totals to catch erroneous election results.
Inside Edition, billboards & The Lincoln Project show voters how to report voter suppression.
How do you tackle rampant voter suppression? Thousands of citizen reporters exposing voting issues and getting them quickly to the press, officials and voting rights …
Dirty tricks abound, what voter suppression looks like in 2020
This year, voter suppression is taking many forms, some conspicuous—from intimidation and long lines at polling places to strict ID requirements—and some hidden in the …
Dirty tricks abound, what voter suppression looks like in 2020 Read More »
Combat voter suppression. Data by the people, for the people to react quickly.
Spot and combat voter suppression. Get the facts quickly to the public, journalists, influencers, lawyers and voting rights groups. Information that has been screened, provided …
Combat voter suppression. Data by the people, for the people to react quickly. Read More »
Lincoln Project: See Something, Say Something!
With just under three weeks left until the November 3rd election and early voting well underway in many states, The Lincoln Project is today beginning …
SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING about voter intimidation.
Federal law prohibits voter intimidation. How can voters report issues preventing them from voting or other election related irregularities in time to do something about …
SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING about voter intimidation. Read More »
Searching for voter suppression incidents as they happen? Use these Twitter expert tips.
Analyzing tweets it is like drinking from a fire hydrant. New apps make it easier to analyze tweets to spot instances of voter suppression as …
Searching for voter suppression incidents as they happen? Use these Twitter expert tips. Read More »
Take a bite out of vote counting crime: Track the poll tapes!
Image credit: DFS “POLL TAPES are printed vote results from voting machines that are transferred to a central tabulator. This process can be used to …
Take a bite out of vote counting crime: Track the poll tapes! Read More »
Souls to the polls. Chatbots connect voters with volunteer drivers by SMS and voice calls.
Need a free ride to the polls? Call or text (843) 890-2992 to be connected with volunteer drivers that are more than happy to get …
Inform eligible felons about their right to vote
People are prevented from voting in many ways. Not informing eligible felons about their right to vote is an especially cruel one.
Fight voter intimidation. See something, say something.
“Trump supporters seemingly attempting to physically intimidate voters and block them from a polling place in Fairfax, Virginia…” – Bipartisan Report Voter intimidation has no …
Fight voter intimidation. See something, say something. Read More »
Looking for the closest Voting Center in Texas? Call or text this friendly chatbot.
Vote centers are an alternative to traditional, neighborhood-based precincts. Voters can cast their ballots at any vote center in the jurisdiction, regardless of their address. …
Looking for the closest Voting Center in Texas? Call or text this friendly chatbot. Read More »
Florida early voting locations map. How to crowdsource information to help more people vote.
Information on when and where to vote improves voter turnout, but often hard to find. Organizers crowdsource early voting and dropbox locations and freely share …
Communicate better on ZOOM. Keep eye contact with an on-screen teleprompter.
Make sure that your speech is up, easily accessible, and legible while you are live on zoom by using the Teleprompter App.
You’ve moved? Hand guide explains how to make sure you can still vote.
“Did you move this year? Do you plan to vote in the November election? If you answered yes to both of those questions, you need …
You’ve moved? Hand guide explains how to make sure you can still vote. Read More »
NBA supports voting. A slam dunk!
So far, at least twenty one teams have agreed to work with local elections officials to make their home venues and arenas hold September voter …
Hot dogs, music and early voting
Making early voting fun and easy. Turning out early voters in Indiana Vanderburgh County, Indiana has approximately 60,000 voters. The county has the third largest …
Youth group launches multi-lingual, interactive video campaign on BigStage to get-out-the-vote
Young Asian Americans for Biden-Harris use multi-lingual, interactive, and translative zoom features to get out the vote.
Suppression on the Reservation makes it harder for Native Americans to vote
Barriers being placed to prevent Native Americans from Voting-by-mail Denying postal services to suppress Native American votes It’s despicable when Americans are prevented from voting …
Suppression on the Reservation makes it harder for Native Americans to vote Read More »
Don’t be conned! Ten safety tips against political sting operations.
Right wing undercover operatives aim to discredit voting by mail and shut down voter registration efforts in minority communities. Guard against dirty tricks with these …
Don’t be conned! Ten safety tips against political sting operations. Read More »
Trying to connect with ethnic minority voters? Find the right influencer with this free app.
Work with influencers that are already trusted by minority communities to help get messages out.
Voting early? Checkout these maps of dropbox and early voting locations in NC and Michigan.
Early voting has started! Find the nearest early voting location or dropbox in North Carolina and Michigan with these free maps.
Conducting voter surveys is easier with a chatbot
How would they like to vote? By mail? Dropbox? In person? Conduct a survey to find out.
How to deliver POWERFUL messages on video
It’s all about how you come across to your audience. These skills are more especially important with so much campaigning, fund raising, and volunteer recruitment …
Trump has repeatedly disparaged the intelligence of service members, and asked that wounded veterans be kept out of military parades.
COVID-19 Death Counter app tracks what really matters
The COVID-19 Death Counter app shows both coronavirus cases and deaths by county. The app is provided as a free public service and is refreshed …
COVID-19 Death Counter app tracks what really matters Read More »
Don’t know where to vote early? Use these free apps to find out.
Voting is being made harder by choking the U.S. Postal Service. New apps help voters find early voting locations.
Train protesters to better ‘frame’ issues to cut through the lies and control the narrative.
“While this literal battle rages—with tear gassing militias on one side and kneeling protestors on the other—the rhetorical one does as well.” – Race Class …
Expert tips on writing text messages that get attention
Campaign texts have taken a turn from informative to downright annoying. So, how do you write a text that will grab someones attention, rather than …
Expert tips on writing text messages that get attention Read More »
Law and order in BLACK and WHITE.
Vigilante mobs suppressing peaceful protestors isn’t new in America. What’s new is how politicians are using social media to fan the flames to hold on …
COVID-19. Hurricanes. Violence. Chatbots get election info to voters through it all.
Chatbots get election-related information to voters coping with a pandemic, hurricanes, violence and voter suppression.
How to fight back when information is weaponized for voter suppression
Fight the weaponizing of voting information. Make it easier for voters to get information in a timely and convenient manner, in their preferred language by …
How to fight back when information is weaponized for voter suppression Read More »
Interactive music video recruits Gen-Z poll workers
Young poll workers are needed as COVID-19 is a greater risk to seniors who typically staff polling centers. Gen-Z artists recruit the next generation of …
Interactive music video recruits Gen-Z poll workers Read More »
Which rural communities will be ruined by the U.S. Postal Service being crippled?
The U.S. Postal Service is the lifeblood of many rural communities. Seniors, veterans and farmers will all suffer from cutbacks. Where will the cuts hurt …
Which rural communities will be ruined by the U.S. Postal Service being crippled? Read More »
Targeting millennials and Gen-Zs to vote and become poll workers “Millennials and GenZers make up 37% of the voting population. No one wins without our …
Ten tips to make anyone a ZOOM fundraising pro
Zoom is child’s play with these ten tips. 1. Test the technology Navigate technical issues before they happen to improve efficiency. Technical issues come hand …
Save money. Do good. Crowdsource texting campaigns to low income American workers.
Campaigns save money with crowdsourced texting and help low-income American workers at the same time. A win-win solution.
How do they feel about absentee ballots? Conduct surveys faster for less money with chatbots.
Conducting surveys doesn’t have to be expensive nor time consuming. Even grassroots groups can now conduct their own customized surveys quickly for next to no …
USPS mailboxes removed. Twitter’s freaking out, should you be?
It is evident that Trump is trying to defund the USPS, but is the removal and locking up of USPS mailboxes something to freak out …
USPS mailboxes removed. Twitter’s freaking out, should you be? Read More »
Indian American group uses interactive video campaign to raise support for Kamala Harris
President Barack Obama raises is hands in ‘Namaste’ – a traditional Indian greeting.
Inspire college students to vote with friend-to-friend influence? There’s an app for that.
Encouraging college students to vote is harder than ever during a pandemic with many college campuses closed. Luckily, we have a successful solution.
Livestream ZOOM meetings to YouTube & Facebook Live to reach larger audiences
Reach audiences across the internet by live streaming your next ZOOM meeting to Youtube and Facebook live.
RECLAIM OUR VOTE increases voter turnout among the underrepresented
Reclaim Our Vote increases turnout amongst voters of color with technology enabled volunteers.
Lost your unemployment benefits? Petition your senator to #SaveThe600.
Petition your senator to restore unemployment benefits that they cut during a pandemic. The Power Coalition uses Movement.Digital for their petition campaign and energize more …
Lost your unemployment benefits? Petition your senator to #SaveThe600. Read More »
Miss that live virtual event? It’s your lucky day, it’s still going on.
Miss a live virtual ZOOM event? It’s your lucky day, it’s still going on. Let people who missed it watch and interact with a recording …
Miss that live virtual event? It’s your lucky day, it’s still going on. Read More »
Do voters even care about that issue? There’s a way to find out.
Google Trends is a free resource that shows which issues are important to voters in particular areas. A quick search on “Russian bounties” was a …
Do voters even care about that issue? There’s a way to find out. Read More »
Want a fair 2020 election? Become a poll worker.
Without enough poll workers, voting locations close and lines stretch for hours. App shows how to become a poll worker.
President Obama’s eulogy used to get out the vote
President Obama’s eulogy to John Lewis inspires others to vote. How to bottle inspiration in campaign videos using free apps.
Five lessons in fundraising from infomercials
How can you persuade people to donate more to your campaign while you have their attention? Here are five proven infomercial techniques:
Infographic contrasts coronavirus relief proposals
Infographics help make sense of the latest Coronavirus bills.
How grieving moms use protests against police killings to recruit supporters
Convert attendees at your rallies into supporters in order to make a bigger impact. This is simple and affordable to do with new petitioning software …
How grieving moms use protests against police killings to recruit supporters Read More »
Always consider the source especially when it concerns your health. Don’t believe everything you hear – especially if it comes a broadcast network with a …
Storytelling matters! Make your case simple, engaging and visual. Use the free StoryMaps app.
AOC speaks up against harassment – Not lost in translation
Everyone should get to hear important messages such as AOC’s speech on the harassment women face by powerful men. New software makes it fast and …
AOC speaks up against harassment – Not lost in translation Read More »
How to create your own campaign videos for free at home
Candidates with little time and money can now create their own video ads using free software apps. Caption and translate the videos to reach more …
How to create your own campaign videos for free at home Read More »
Fundraising during a pandemic demands fresh thinking. Big Stage Online adapts ZOOM for virtual fundraisers.
Social media analysis of reaction to masked Federal agents abducting Portland protestors
Analyze social media in real-time to spot breaking events before the mainstream media cover it. Identify key influencers on the issue and the hashtags being used.
Interesting stories inform and inspire people to act. StoryMaps is a free digital storytelling app that makes complex issues easy-to-understand. It creates visual, interactive stories that are easy …
HipHop Politics On The BigStage
Online political events and fundraisers customize widely used conferencing apps to make it easier to for viewers to respond.
Extend campaign outreach with relational organizing. Supporters directly text messages from the campaign to their friends. VoteForce makes it fast, simple and affordable.
¡Yo hablo español, 中文 and हिन्दी too!
Caption and translate your videos to maximize their impact. New machine learning software makes it fast and affordable to translate thirty different languages.
Mapping the protests across America
Map the protests sweeping the nation with interactive apps to fully understand their scope, demands and who is taking part.
Free new apps level the campaign playing field against bigger opponents.
Reclaim Our Vote uses volunteer powered P2P texting, chatbot helplines and smart maps to get out the vote in Texas.
Scan this to recruit volunteers
How to recruit supporters during a pandemic: Recruiting supporters at an event is hard. Lot’s of people, activity and little time. How can it be …
Four innovations to get out the vote in Virginia
Reclaim Our Vote, a grassroots group in Virginia is innovating to get-out-the-vote in Virginia’s primary election. Its volunteers will text 32,000 voters in three Virginia …
Four innovations to get out the vote in Virginia Read More »
Georgia is truly special. Hours long lines to vote. Missing vote by mail ballots. $110 million spent on new voting machines. What gives?
Kalamazoo Commissioner Stephanie Moore mobilized community support for two proclamations on racism as a public health crisis and demanding an end to police brutality.
Use Petitions To Harness Outrage And Build Contact Lists With Free New App
Petition drives work, but the pandemic has forced organizing online which demands innovation. Existing petition systems are often expensive or make money by reselling the …
Use Petitions To Harness Outrage And Build Contact Lists With Free New App Read More »
Nationwide Map Of Police Brutality Created From Tweets
Police officers trample peaceful protestors in Houston. Police push 75 year old man to the ground and leave him bleeding in Buffalo. How can these …
Nationwide Map Of Police Brutality Created From Tweets Read More »
Three Free Safety Apps For Protestors
Police violence and digital surveillance shouldn’t be used to intimidate peaceful protestors. These free apps protect protestors exercising their First Amendment right to “assemble peaceably …
More Police, Doctors Or Teachers?
Police budgets explode and prisons fill up. Coronavirus care and schools suffers. Voter suppression in black communities increases. How are the three connected? Tax payer …
Convert Protestors Into Voters With Geofenced Ad Campaigns
Protesters teargassed as police disperse them near the White House. ROBERTO SCHMIDT/AFP Protesting is good, but voting is even better. How do you target messages …
Convert Protestors Into Voters With Geofenced Ad Campaigns Read More »
Follow The Money To Understand Zuckerberg’s Actions
Why would Mark let Facebook be used for racist messages? Follow the money … Cut through lies and deception to find the truth by “following the …
Follow The Money To Understand Zuckerberg’s Actions Read More »
Record, Save And Share Videos Of Police Action With A Single Phone Command
Videos raise public awareness and hold public servants accountable for their actions. How do you record and share a video quickly in the middle of …
Record, Save And Share Videos Of Police Action With A Single Phone Command Read More »
NAACP Volunteers Use ‘Smart’ Texts To Reduce Lines At Georgia Voting Centers
Voters braving a pandemic, shouldn’t have to struggle to find their closest polling location. It’s easy for Georgia voters to get confused, and many end up …
NAACP Volunteers Use ‘Smart’ Texts To Reduce Lines At Georgia Voting Centers Read More »
Hold Police Officers Accountable For Their Misconduct
How do police officers get away with terrible deeds? Police union contracts. Check The Police analyzes police union contracts that make it more difficult to …
Hold Police Officers Accountable For Their Misconduct Read More »
How To Track Twitter Trolls Promoting Racial Discord
How do trolls promote racial strife and violence on social media? “Outsiders, extremists are among those fomenting violence in Twin Cities” – MPR. “The goal is …
How To Track Twitter Trolls Promoting Racial Discord Read More »
Convert Public Attention Into Supporters And Donations
How do you convert public attention and media coverage into supporters and donors? Use QR Codes. Basics QR Codes are scannable codes that most phones can …
Convert Public Attention Into Supporters And Donations Read More »
How To Find Ballot Drop Boxes And Early Voting Locations In Georgia
Voters in Georgia’s June 9th election can return their absentee ballots at drop box without a stamp or any human contact. How do they find …
How To Find Ballot Drop Boxes And Early Voting Locations In Georgia Read More »
Organize Workers Forced To Re-Enter COVID-19 Infected Facilities
Workers pressured back to work in dangerous conditions have a tough choice: their paycheck or their lives? How can they organize for safe working conditions and fair wages in such …
Organize Workers Forced To Re-Enter COVID-19 Infected Facilities Read More »
Over 2 million people are imprisoned in America. Most of them are black or Hispanic and they are dying in the hundreds from the Coronavirus. …
Politicians often vote against their voters’ interests. How can the public track what they’re voting for and let them know when they go wrong? In this blog you’ll learn …
Speak To Voters In Their Language
Asian American voters are the margin of victory in many key races. Make sure you message reaches the. Translate & caption your videos. In this blog …
Musicians Power Virtual Fundraisers
Musicians and progressive campaigns are teaming to raise funds online with live streaming performances. The Coronavirus has forced campaigns to innovate. How do you …
Geotargeted Campaigns Mobilize Voters Struggling With The Coronavirus
Use geotargeting to reach those struggling with the Coronavirus. Geotargeting uses data collected from mobile apps to precisely target messages based on people’s activities and movements. For instance, patients visiting a …
Geotargeted Campaigns Mobilize Voters Struggling With The Coronavirus Read More »
Why do some black counties in Georgia have 20 times as many deaths as nearby white counties? What impact does voter suppression have on the healthcare provide to …
Human Sacrifice To Corporate Greed
What’s behind the rush to re-open and force workers back to Coronavirus infested meatpacking plants? Who is pushing to shield corporations from their COVID19 liability? “McConnell is …
How can a virtual protest be organized during a pandemic? One where Congress gets to hear from real people? A virtual protest #VirusFreeVoting is planned by Indivisible …
Conduct Polls In A Pandemic? Use Chatbots.
Collecting accurate, timely information in a pandemic needs innovation. Mothers Of Hope uses chatbots to collect information from Kalamazoo residents about their Coronavirus care and census participation. The group encourages community …
A pandemic is no time to play political games when people are dying. Mitch McConnell refused Federal aid to states that were Democrat, calling it a ‘Blue State Bailout’. …
Will You Be Counted In The Census?
Image: Lumen5 How can marginalized groups be inspired to take part in the census during a pandemic? Sharvin Lee with Michigan Voices is experimenting with difference approaches. She created a …
National Calendar Of Events Responding To The Coronavirus Pandemic
How can experts, volunteers and resources connect in a pandemic? NYC United Against Coronavirus (NYC UAC) shows how it can be done quickly and with few resources. …
National Calendar Of Events Responding To The Coronavirus Pandemic Read More »
Big numbers make it hard to fully grasp the size of a tragedy – such as the number of American deaths from the Coronavirus. The facts …
Elections have consequences. So do tax cuts. Make it easy for people to understand cause and effect with interactive visuals. We used StoryMaps (a free app) to …
Make Sure Everyone Hears Your Message – Regardless Of Their Language.
Make sure every one get to hear your message regardless of their language. One out of five American speaks a language other than English at …
Make Sure Everyone Hears Your Message – Regardless Of Their Language. Read More »
Organize Gig Workers Digitally In A Pandemic
The pandemic has devastated gig workers. No unemployment insurance. No health insurance. Unsafe working conditions. How can gig workers organize to demand their rights when …
Pandemic-Mode Voter Suppression
“Wisconsin’s holding of a primary during a pandemic is just the latest example of Republicans’ naked bid to keep power at all costs.” – The Guardian The …
Statewide Michigan Indivisible Rapid Response To GOP Demand That Jeopardizes Lawmaker’s Lives
Michigan Republicans insist legislators vote in-person in the middle of a pandemic! “The vote will come a day after it was announced that State Rep. …
Teach Your Children Well – At Home With These Free Apps And Games
Image: Inspired Teaching Free home education apps and resources to teach their children how to cope with pandemic induced anxiety. Resources created by non-profits for …
Teach Your Children Well – At Home With These Free Apps And Games Read More »
Is Coronavirus Testing Really Color Blind?
Image: Eddie Murphy “White Like Me” on SNL How evenly are different ethnic groups being tested for the Coronavirus? Mothers of Hope is a small non-profit in …
Poor People’s VA Campaign Offers Local Coronavirus Newsfeed
How does a grassroots group with little funding keep locals informed of dangers and resources during a pandemic? How can vital information be quickly collected …
Poor People’s VA Campaign Offers Local Coronavirus Newsfeed Read More »
Groups Connect Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Donors With Healthcare Providers.
Healthcare workers should not have to fear for lives because they lack personal protective equipment (PPE). These groups connect donors with workers to get them the equipment they …
Groups Connect Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Donors With Healthcare Providers. Read More »
Vote by Mail. Leave No Voter Behind.
Voting by mail has worked well for years, but will be especially important in this pandemic. But how do voters without a computer or internet …
Why would the Trump Administration strip one of the oldest Native American tribes of its land during the Coronavirus pandemic? Activists decided to ‘follow the …
Crowdsourced Infomap Helps Idaho Communities Prepare For Coronavirus
Accurate, timely information is valuable – especially while you’re preparing for a pandemic. Which stores have supplies you need? Which facilities open? Which offices are open at different …
Crowdsourced Infomap Helps Idaho Communities Prepare For Coronavirus Read More »
Coronavirus Guide. Mobile Training Delivered By Voice And Text.
Coronavirus safety training now available freely by phone. How can safety recommendations be shared with hard-to-contact groups in the middle of a pandemic? Technology designed …
Coronavirus Guide. Mobile Training Delivered By Voice And Text. Read More »
How Many Coronavirus Tests Has Your State Conducted?
“Testing is a key tool in limiting the spread of coronavirus. You need to know who has contracted the virus so those people can be isolated, …
How Many Coronavirus Tests Has Your State Conducted? Read More »
Bots Push To Overturn Roe V Wade Decision
Image adapted from Handmaid’s Tale & Terminator Protests rage as the Supreme Court reviews a case that could could ‘render protections by Roe v Wade meaningless’. How …
Coronavirus Atlas Map US Cases, Safety Tips And Official Response.
There are facts – and ‘alternative facts’. A means to find the truth is needed when alternate facts put lives at risks. Coronavirus Atlas is a free app …
Coronavirus Atlas Map US Cases, Safety Tips And Official Response. Read More »
Group Uses Personal Video Testimonials To Encourage Use Of Vote-By-Mail Ballots.
Photo by Qim Manifester on Unsplash Make your videos more persuasive with personal testimonials. Video testimonials work but collecting them has been difficult for groups with limited time, …
Group Uses Personal Video Testimonials To Encourage Use Of Vote-By-Mail Ballots. Read More »
Activists Use GIFs To Demand Funding For CDC To Fight Coronavirus
Reach more people, faster and for less money with a GIF. GIFs are just seconds long but get your message heard. They play automatically and engage viewers …
Activists Use GIFs To Demand Funding For CDC To Fight Coronavirus Read More »
People lose their vote when it’s hard for them to get to the polls. The elderly, disabled and low income voters in rural areas suffer the most. How …
Don’t let hackers clog phone lines and block real callers. Use voicebots to guard against such attacks and streamline call handling. “Trump supporters clogged Iowa caucus …
Voters struggle to connect how actions taken by politicians in service of their rich donors negatively affect their lives. Explain the connection and what they can …
Image adapted from the Economist Grassroots activists struggle to get heard against billionaires and corporations with their armies of lobbyists and PR experts. A free …
The disabled, poor, uneducated and senior citizens suffer from not knowing of healthcare cuts and new voting restrictions until it is too late to protest. …
Community Oriented Political Outreach
How does a candidate with a small budget standout in a crowded field? Innovation. Seeyew Mo is running to represent S.F. Assembly District 19 at …
People in remote areas are often overlooked by the census and find it hard to vote. Many Americans in remote areas suffer because poor roads …
Build Or Buy Campaign Software?
Elections have consequences. So do budget cuts. Mobilize voters on the issues that matter to them. People care when public safety is jeopardized by CDC funding cuts that …
Keep an eye on trolls activity and report harassment to Twitter. New apps make it easier and more affordable to monitor trolls. Who is behind the Twitter bots attacking …
Triage voters for better results
Photo by Online Marketing on Unsplash Doctors triage patients. They divide patients into those who don’t need treatment, those beyond hope, and those they should …
Pledge To Vote Cards Go Digital
Canvassers improve voter turnout with pledge to vote cards. Digital pledge cards work even better than printed ones. DemLabs and Deliver My Vote are testing digital Pledge …
Five Free Apps For Better Canvassing
Trying to find the right campaign app when you’re tight on money and not tech savvy? Checkout the DemLabs site with over 110 solutions and Solution Guides like the …
Free New App Streamlines Information Flow Against The Rush To War
Streamlines the flow of information against the rush to war with the free Wakelet app. Quickly collect, curate and share information for anti-war supporters with Wakelet. The app consolidates …
Free New App Streamlines Information Flow Against The Rush To War Read More »
Podcast Training Retreat For Women Changemakers
Millions listen to podcasts but not enough are hosted and produced by women. How can we fix this? An exclusive Be Your Change workshop will train fifteen women to …
Mission Accomplished – The Sequel
“Those who do not learn from history, are doomed to repeat it,” George Santanya. This parody video shows the similarities between the start of the last Iraq …
Moscow Mitch Explains Impeachment In Russian
Spoof videos are weapons of mass persuasion. They convert popular movie clips into political messages disguised as satire. The videos are inexpensive to make, but get millions of views as …
Image: Banksy Issues can be complicated. Relationship maps strip away the BS to show what’s really going on. The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) overturned a prior ruling making …
Photo by Mubarak Show on Unsplash There are two ways to hold onto power. Get more people to support you, or silence those who don’t. One way is …
Young Activists Make The Best Storytellers
If you’re not at the table, you’re on the menu.Get to the table by engaging others to your side with story-telling. Young activists excel at …
Three Free Apps To Create Campaign Videos With Just A Laptop
Fast news cycles demand a rapid response. Short videos work best, but how does a campaign with little money, time and video skills create a …
Three Free Apps To Create Campaign Videos With Just A Laptop Read More »
Five Free Online Training Platforms To Training Volunteers And Organizers.
How do you train volunteers and staff the skills to be better activists and organizers? Especially when a range of skills have to be taught …
Five Free Online Training Platforms To Training Volunteers And Organizers. Read More »
Impeachment Web: Data Analytics Applied To Trace The People, Connections, Favors And Money.
Too much information is worse than too little. Facts get lost. Connections get overlooked. Data analysis converts information into meaningful insights. Background The impeachment hearings …
Black Voters Matter Fund Innovates To Get-Out-The-Vote In Louisiana’s Election For Governor.
Getting out the vote is a campaign’s final drive push. The Black Voters Matter Fund ran a fast, frugal get-out-the-vote campaign in Louisiana’s election for …
Supreme Court To Decide Future Of DACA. StoryMap Explains What’s At Stake.
Ending DACA and deporting 700,000 Dreamers will devastate families and cripple communities. People should understand what’s at stake as the Supreme Court reviews President Trump’s …
Supreme Court To Decide Future Of DACA. StoryMap Explains What’s At Stake. Read More »
App Immediately Translates Impeachment Testimony Into Videos In Different Languages.
Language should not be a barrier to knowing the facts. New software quickly and affordably translates and captions video clips for mass distribution. Background Most …
App Immediately Translates Impeachment Testimony Into Videos In Different Languages. Read More »
The Beginner’s Guide To Running A Low-Budget, Geo-Targeted Political Ad Campaign.
Reach voters on their phones even if you don’t have their phone numbers with geo-targeting. Tips on running a smart, frugal campaign. Background “Bhuwan Pyakurel is …
The Beginner’s Guide To Running A Low-Budget, Geo-Targeted Political Ad Campaign. Read More »
Map The Battlefield, Before You Launch Your Campaign.
Activists fight with limited resources against well funded political incumbents. They have to pick their targets strategically. Good mapping software can be the equalizer. Which …
Map The Battlefield, Before You Launch Your Campaign. Read More »
Online Training For Activists On How To Frame Issues To Build Support.
How do you get someone with very different beliefs to support your cause? Frame the discussion to align with their existing beliefs. Framing is an …
Online Training For Activists On How To Frame Issues To Build Support. Read More »
How Was Your Voting Experience?
Long lines. Not enough ballots. Broken voting machines… Voter suppression thrives in the dark. How often is voting related mischief reported after an election? Why is it that …
Does Your Congressperson Support The Impeachment Inquiry? Ask The Common Cause Chatbot On Facebook.
Politicians can run, but they cannot hide from where they stand on the impeachment inquiry. Common Cause’s new Facebook chatbot tells voters where their congressperson …
Fighting The Good Fight? Make Sure To Pick The Best Apps.
Magic is a long shot. Bet on innovation instead. Technology is the equalizer against bigger, better-funded opponents. Winning campaigns innovate faster. What holds back …
Fighting The Good Fight? Make Sure To Pick The Best Apps. Read More »
The Iowa Caucuses: Analyzing What, Where And When The Candidates Doing?
Campaigns have to make the most of limited time, money and staff. What events should be held? Where? When? What are the other campaigns doing? …
The Iowa Caucuses: Analyzing What, Where And When The Candidates Doing? Read More »
And The Award For The Most Creative Voter Suppression Scheme Goes To …
Creativity should be recognized. Even if it is evil and killing democracy by suppressing votes. DemLabs is partnering with voting rights groups on ‘Voter …
And The Award For The Most Creative Voter Suppression Scheme Goes To … Read More »
Grassroots Group Uses Radio Ads, Chatbots & Mobile Apps To Arrange Rides To The Polls For The Needy.
Why do those with the most to gain from change, face the most hurdles in voting? Living in remote rural areas, a lack of transport, …
Wrong Polling Location Info Can Devastate Voter Turnout.
Mapping apps easily guide people to their destinations. Why then do voters often get sent to the wrong polling location? Bad data on polling …
Wrong Polling Location Info Can Devastate Voter Turnout. Read More »
Trying To Understand The Impeachment Inquiry? Use A Relationship Map Follows The Money.
Tracking a complex case of corruption? Use a relationship map to follow the money. How to map a swamp It’s easy to get lost …
Trying To Understand The Impeachment Inquiry? Use A Relationship Map Follows The Money. Read More »
New App Lets Progressive Volunteers Find Free Lodging With Local Supporters.
Volunteers donate their time and energy to canvas and get-out-the-vote. But often they’re cash-strapped and need a place to stay. Supporters have lodging to …
New App Lets Progressive Volunteers Find Free Lodging With Local Supporters. Read More »
Betrayal Map: Why Are The Kurds Being Abandoned?
One day you’re a loyal American ally. The next you’re cannon fodder. What explains the sudden change in American policy towards the Kurds? Democracy Partners …
Betrayal Map: Why Are The Kurds Being Abandoned? Read More »
Impeachment Inquiry Timeline. ‘Cut To The Chase’ With An Infographic.
Some issues are intentionally made confusing to distract people from the truth. Infographics cut to the chase. They combine facts, events, and videos into simple visuals …
Impeachment Inquiry Timeline. ‘Cut To The Chase’ With An Infographic. Read More »
Bet On Winning Posts For Better Facebook Political Campaigns
Campaigns can’t avoid Facebook’s power to influence people. How can cash-strapped campaigns harness this power to reach more people? Follow the money: Facebook thrives on ad revenue. It keeps people engaged for …
Bet On Winning Posts For Better Facebook Political Campaigns Read More »
Black Voters Matter Uses Clips Of Policing In Video Campaign To Encourage People To Vote.
The outrage from incidents shared on social media soon disappears. People are jaded and don’t vote because the outcome doesn’t improve their lives. How can social …
Activists Innovate With Free Apps To Alert Supporters Of Rallies, Town-Halls And Canvassing Drives.
Coordination makes all the difference – especially when time and resources are tight. Thousands of people taking part in hundreds of events, organized by dozens of groups. Where …
Persuasion To Go. Voting Rights Group Uses Billboards To Get Out The Vote In North Carolina.
Billboards work. They’re persuasive and cost effective. Here’s how Center For Common Ground used billboards in North Carolina-3 to increase voter turnout in the recent special election. Results Cost of …
Lessons From Black Voters Matter Geofenced Get-Out-The-Vote Mobile Ad Campaign In NC.
Geofenced mobile ads reach more people with better precision for less. Black Voters Matter campaign in North Carolina’s special election put the approach to good use. African American voters are important …
Lessons From Black Voters Matter Geofenced Get-Out-The-Vote Mobile Ad Campaign In NC. Read More »
Grassroots Group Harnesses Consumer Spending To Local Businesses Supporting The Community.
Money talks. And it walks. Every purchase is a vote of support for that business. A consumer boycott is a vote against firms that live off the community but give …
How Small Adversaries Overwhelm Superpowers With Cyber Warfare And Disinformation Campaigns.
“The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting.” – Sun Tzu. Instead of the bullets and tanks used in conventional war, …
How Indivisible Michigan Uses Advanced Software To Coordinate Activities To Flip Swing Districts.
Planning makes all the difference – especially when you’re underfunded. Grassroots groups make a bigger impact with better software. StateWide Indivisible of Michigan (SWIM) is …
Multimedia App Explains Money At Play In Blocking Gun Control Reform.
Short TV segments don’t explain complex issues well. How can sustained public support for gun control be built, when mass shootings are soon forgotten and politicians obfuscate? It’s …
Multimedia App Explains Money At Play In Blocking Gun Control Reform. Read More »
New Artificial Intelligence (AI) Powered App, Coaches You To Become A Better Public Speaker.
A very few of us are naturally, gifted public speakers. The rest of us need to practice. Technology can now coach activists, organizers and candidates to become …
A Free Canvassing App To Get Out The Vote When You Have No Budget And Limited Time.
Native American voters are the margin of victory in many key races. Vast distances, scarce funds and a legacy of voter suppression makes it hard to get …
A Free Canvassing App To Get Out The Vote When You Have No Budget And Limited Time. Read More »
App Helps Florida Residents Track Hurricane Dorian And Explains How Cuts To FEMA Will Hurt.
App tracks storm in real-time to help Florida residents prepare for Hurricane Dorian. How will the $155 million cut to FEMA disaster-relief funds hurt? What is behind the cuts? …
Personal Data: Political Persuasion. How Consumer Data Is Sold To Campaigns To Better Target Voters.
Collecting and selling personal data to businesses is a big industry. Political campaigns are increasingly using the same data. Campaigns rely heavily on voter files for targeting. Many …
How To Enrich The Voter File With Other Data Sources For Better Results.
Use the best tool(s) available. It’s no different in campaigns. Enrich the Voter File with other data sources for better results. Smarter targeting and canvassing. Better results in fund raising and finding unregistered …
How To Enrich The Voter File With Other Data Sources For Better Results. Read More »
What’s In Common Between The Contaminated Water Crisis In Flint, Newark And Baltimore?
What do Flint, Newark and Baltimore all suffering from lead-contaminated water have in common? Their disasters are distinct, but share a common thread. How can the cause be explained vividly in order to …
What’s In Common Between The Contaminated Water Crisis In Flint, Newark And Baltimore? Read More »
Worried About Your Child’s Well Being If You’re Deported? There Is An App For That.
How will your children be taken care of if you’re deported? How should a community prepare for an ICE raid? What are the latest …
Worried About Your Child’s Well Being If You’re Deported? There Is An App For That. Read More »
American Soybean Farmers Suffer From Tariffs On China. StoryMap Explains The Issue.
Why would the Chief of the US Department of Agriculture mock farmers hurt by trade wars as ‘Whiners’? A volunteer research team found that farmers’ suffering was both real and widespread. “Net …
American Soybean Farmers Suffer From Tariffs On China. StoryMap Explains The Issue. Read More »
Disinformation Primer: Using The Overton Window To Change What’s Acceptable.
Banning muslims? Putting kids in cages? A president for life? How is the public manipulated to tolerate such extreme steps? How can the range of …
Disinformation Primer: Using The Overton Window To Change What’s Acceptable. Read More »
Companies Profit By Hiring Prison Labor & Undocumented Workers.
“Hundreds of Their Workers Were Arrested in Mississippi ICE Raids, But No Employers Have Been Charged Yet.” – TIME reported. Important issues are skimmed and soon forgotten. Most …
Companies Profit By Hiring Prison Labor & Undocumented Workers. Read More »
App Converts Phones Into Walkie-Talkies. Ideal For Managing Rallies Without Cell Service.
Large crowds can swamp cell tower capacity. Natural disasters and other groups can disrupt cell coverage at a rally. Rally organizers need to plan for all contingencies. They need a …
Group Mounts Social Media Video Campaign To Block Redevelopment Of African-American Community.
Make the Road Nevada is fighting in solidarity with Windsor Park residents as the City of North Las Vegas is proposing to sell 80% of the land …
Time Lapse Map Shows The Growing Epidemic Of Mass Shootings And Domestic Terrorism.
The true horror of mass shootings is lost as the media moves to the next tragedy and politicians stall with platitudes. The outrage dissipates. How can the danger from gun …
Time Lapse Map Shows The Growing Epidemic Of Mass Shootings And Domestic Terrorism. Read More »
Volunteers Crowdsource Research On Moscow Mitch’s Connections, Contributors And Foreign Friends.
Why would the Senate Majority Leader block a measure to strengthen US election security? A small team of volunteers researched possible forces behind Moscow Mitch’s decision. They researched publicly available information to uncover …
Mobilizing Citizens To Prevent Cuts To The Food Stamp Program. Technology For A Rapid Response.
The Trump administration is planning to cut the Food Stamp program. This would eliminate SNAP benefits for 3.1 million individuals and take free school meals away from the children …
A single image often captures the truth better than dozens of reports. Technology now makes it easy to design network maps that reveal the motives and connections behind an action. We …
As State Close Down Clinics, ACN Uses New Apps To Help Women Find The Nearest One Still Open.
It’s becoming increasingly difficult for patients to get care as more and more reproductive healthcare clinics are forced to shut down. Families are being forced to travel further, spend more, and take more …
Who Profits From The Private ICE Detention Center Boom? Mapping This Swamp To Expose Money’s Role.
Dangerous creatures hide and thrive in swamps. It isn’t easy to understand what goes on in swamps – real or political. Details are concealed. Motivations are masked. People …
Who Profits From The Opioid Epidemic? Free App Maps Connections & Contributions To Follow The Money.
“Follow the money”, Deep Throat advised reporters investigating the Nixon Watergate scandal. The advice is still apt and applies to many issues including the opioid crisis. But it’s harder …
Rapid Response To ICE Raids In Las Vegas With Community Sourced Video Campaign.
A rapid community response is needed for imminent threats. Make The Road Nevada (MTRN) a grassroots group, decided to ask community members for video comments about a single …
Rapid Response To ICE Raids In Las Vegas With Community Sourced Video Campaign. Read More »
Western Native Voice Uses Free App To Organize Native American Communities.
Organizing Native American communities is challenging. Tribal lands span hundreds of square miles often without internet or cell coverage. Community members often use mailboxes instead of a street address …
Western Native Voice Uses Free App To Organize Native American Communities. Read More »
Think Outside The (Mail)Box. Virginia Candidate Uses Voter File For Targeted Mobile Ad Campaign.
People respond more to their phones than letters. It’s time for campaigns to think outside the (mail)box. An insurgent campaign in Virginia is innovating to try to unseat the …
New Map Highlights ‘Hard To Count’ Communities That May Be Left Out Of The Census.
The 2020 census will be different. It’s counting on more people to complete census questionnaires online to reduce the need for field workers. This hurts communities without dependable internet …
New Map Highlights ‘Hard To Count’ Communities That May Be Left Out Of The Census. Read More »
Ten Security Tips From Hong Kong Pro-Democracy Protestors For Activists In The ‘Land Of The Free’.
Protestors in Hong Kong have shown that it is possible to organize in a tightly monitored and censored environment. They offer ten practical security tips a free online handbook. …
Free canvassing app for voter registration & census turnout – works without internet access.
Many rural communities suffer from a lack of connectivity. It’s harder to stay informed, benefit from online services, locate polling locations, vote and take part in the census. Organizers struggle to …
Free app simplifies canvassing and makes it affordable for even small grassroots groups.
Some people drive fancy cars. Others bike. It all depends on your destination and budget. Canvassing is the same. A lack of funds holds back some campaigns from …
Free app simplifies canvassing and makes it affordable for even small grassroots groups. Read More »
Skill For Good: Matches digital storyteller volunteers with non-profits using an ‘Uber-like’ model.
Ride-sharing services like Uber make it convenient to get a ride by quickly matching passengers with nearby drivers. Why is it so hard to match …
How can grassroots energy be harnessed to win elections? How can collaboration between different organizing groups be maximized for greater impact? Hundreds of grassroots organizers …
How does your audience feel? Find out with an instant poll using the free DirectPoll app.
How does your audience feel about an issue or candidate? A quick poll is best way to find out but hard to manage in a noisy, densely packed room. A count of hands is easy but error-prone. Paper questionnaires …
“In November, a supermajority of Florida voters approved a constitutional amendment restoring voting rights to former felons who’ve completed their sentences. Florida legislature advanced a bill that will strip …
A Free Peer-To-Peer Canvassing App. How To Use Existing Apps For Fast, Frugal Innovation.
Personal connections make a big difference. Especially in peer-to-peer canvassing where volunteers encourage their friends to register to vote. How can volunteers be equipped to easily collect details for …
Rapid Response. Virginia Candidate Uses Current Events To Focus Attention On What Really Matters.
A gunman walked into a government office building in Virginia Beach, Virginia on Friday, May 31 and murdered 12 people. The incident quickly faded from the news as …
Advocates install a ‘breathing billboard’ to rally public support for curbing air pollution.
How do you draw public attention to a deadly, but invisible killer? Jhatkaa works on social justice issues including how to build public support to curb air pollution. Their recent campaign …
As Alabama Legislators Close Abortion Clinics, Chatbot Jane Sees Surge In Searches Out-Of-State.
Lawmakers Vote to Effectively Ban Abortion in Alabama “These bills essentially ban abortions after a heartbeat is detected, usually about six weeks into pregnancy, a …
Photo of Leisha Evans taken by Jonathan Bachman for Reuters from Wikipedia A powerful image can tell a full story without a single word. Organizers, however, often lack the skills …
Harness public outrage through Facebook petitions to fundraise and build lists.
Public outrage is both powerful and fleeting. Convert the outrage to also fund raise and build lists for long term change. It is simple with apps that combine the reach of Facebook petitions and the …
Harness public outrage through Facebook petitions to fundraise and build lists. Read More »
Get Your Message Heard Without Breaking The Bank. A Workshop For Underfunded Campaigns.
Necessity is the mother of invention. So is lack of funding. Underfunded campaigns need new ways to compete against better funded opponents. Technology can level the playing field, but awareness …
Get Your Message Heard Without Breaking The Bank. A Workshop For Underfunded Campaigns. Read More »
Lessons From How The NRA Quickly Mobilizes Its Members For Maximum Political Power.
“The NRA activates its membership when elected officials are facing gun-related legislation, resulting in phone calls and emails and letters to Congress”, reports NBC: “How …
Lessons From How The NRA Quickly Mobilizes Its Members For Maximum Political Power. Read More »
Get your actions more publicity with highlight videos made from the Facebook Live stream.
Organizers use Facebook Live to stream videos of their actions, but their audience is often limited to just those who can watch it all. Short highlight clips make …
Virginia Candidates Create Issue-Specific Campaign Videos With Free, Innovative App.
“There is an 80% increase in the time spent on watching videos … 45% of the people surveyed in North America said they expect to watch even more videos …
Virginia Candidates Create Issue-Specific Campaign Videos With Free, Innovative App. Read More »
Target ads with geographic info on people’s movements and the places they’ve visited.
Farmers use digital tags to monitor their livestock. Advertisers have it easier. People voluntarily carry tags that constantly report their position and activity: mobile phones. Geomarketing …
Target ads with geographic info on people’s movements and the places they’ve visited. Read More »
Up your game with this library of free campaigning and organizing ‘how to’ guides.
Grassroots organizing changes constantly with new tactics and apps. How can the lessons learned on one campaign be quickly shared with other progressive groups? Blueprints for Change converts know-how from campaign organiziners …
Up your game with this library of free campaigning and organizing ‘how to’ guides. Read More »
Make Your Point Clear. Create Infographics Easily With This Free App.
It’s hard to quickly explain the scope of corporate welfare and how to bring it under control. How can the case for reform be presented in a simple, engaging manner? Infographics convert complex …
Make Your Point Clear. Create Infographics Easily With This Free App. Read More »
They only listen to their own voters. Use geocoding to mobilize better and focus supporters’ energy.
Elected officials only listen to their own voters. So it’s essential for campaigns need to direct their supporters to lobby the right official. How can this be done with …
Campaign videos made easy. Free app includes thousands of video clips, photos & soundtracks.
Video campaigns on social media are proven effective. But many candidates can’t afford them due to the high costs and specialized skills needed to produce good …
Create Your Own Campaign Videos LEGO-Style. It’s Fast, Flexible And Free.
Image by Bruno Glätsch from Pixabay. “LEGO®is a trademark of the LEGO Group of companies”. Cars at the turn of the century were custom made …
Create Your Own Campaign Videos LEGO-Style. It’s Fast, Flexible And Free. Read More »
Let Voters Tell You Directly What They Care About With Real-Time Crowdsourcing.
Sean Frame is running for Congress in CA-4 against a well funded incumbent. He’s trying a new way to engage voters and raise funds. He is …
Let Voters Tell You Directly What They Care About With Real-Time Crowdsourcing. Read More »
Midwest Academy Online strategic campaign training for Organizers.
The Midwest Academy has trained over 25,000 grassroots activists. Heather Booth founded the Academy in 1973 to train leaders fighting for social, economic and racial justice. It has played …
Midwest Academy Online strategic campaign training for Organizers. Read More »
Who are they, really? Find out with these free apps.
Campaigns can be devastated by opponents pretending to be volunteers and donors. These ten free background research services help reveal the truth. It’s advisable to first test the …
Who are they, really? Find out with these free apps. Read More »
David vs Goliath. Rookie Virginia candidate uses free apps in challenge to powerful incumbent.
In a modern day version of David vs Goliath, a rookie candidate uses high tech stones to challenge a powerful incumbent. The ending has yet to be written… Herb Jones a …
Is your campaign a gas guzzler? Cut costs and go further with free apps.
“Fundraise! Money is like gas for your campaign”, candidates are advised. How many miles to the gallon (MPG) does your campaign get? Are the funds you work hard …
Is your campaign a gas guzzler? Cut costs and go further with free apps. Read More »
The Camera Is Mightier Than The Sword. Nine Progressive Film Makers Revealing The Truth.
The truth shall set you free. A good video cuts through noise to show what’s really going on. And to inspire people to take action. …
The Camera Is Mightier Than The Sword. Nine Progressive Film Makers Revealing The Truth. Read More »
Two Free Mapping Apps To Better Target Campaigns
Winning campaigns want to focus their resources and efforts to maximize impact. The challenge is where to focus for the most votes and what issues to …
Two Free Mapping Apps To Better Target Campaigns Read More »
Beware Of Free Gifts. How Hackers Use Social Media To Profile And Trick Their Victims.
Who says there is no point in reading the classics? North Korean hackers adapted the Trojan Horse to hack Chile’s entire ATM network. An unsuspecting employee at a company …
Beware Of Free Gifts. How Hackers Use Social Media To Profile And Trick Their Victims. Read More »
Use this free app to create your own high-quality campaign videos
We love solutions that let more deserving candidates run for office. We really love apps, that are free and easy-to-use. Candidates struggle to produce campaign videos when they are tight on time and money. …
Use this free app to create your own high-quality campaign videos Read More »
How To Find And Mobilize Voters With Geo-Fenced Mobile Ads
Where and when someone goes reveals a lot about them. Savvy marketers use these clues to target their ads. Mobile apps report their user’s location so they can …
How To Find And Mobilize Voters With Geo-Fenced Mobile Ads Read More »
Build opt-in text lists by helping people with their issues.
There is no red poverty. Nor blue poverty. Campaigns can engage more people by addressing the issues that really matter to them, and collect information about them in the process. Campaigns …
Build opt-in text lists by helping people with their issues. Read More »
Enough of old, male and pale. Let’s train more campaign staff of color.
Genny Castillo & Ashley Robinson – Co-founders, The BLUE Institute. “Lack of minority staffers threatens to hobble 2020 Democrats. If you don’t have any people …
Enough of old, male and pale. Let’s train more campaign staff of color. Read More »
Innovations For Persuasive Digital Storytelling.
No one gets it right the first time. It’s how fast we learn and adapt that matters. DemLabs partners with campaigns to innovate better ways of digital persuasion. Following is the process we …
Innovations For Persuasive Digital Storytelling. Read More »
8 Highly Effective Training Resources for Organizers
Photo by Miguel Henriques on Unsplash “Change requires more than righteous anger. It requires a program and organizing, which is the only way to bring about lasting change”, …
8 Highly Effective Training Resources for Organizers Read More »
Work with the news cycle for better press coverage.
Photo by Kristel Hayes on Unsplash Sailors know sailing with the wind and tide gets them further with less effort. Aligning your story with the news cycle can …
Work with the news cycle for better press coverage. Read More »
Making friends and influencing people in Silicon Valley? Use a local connector.
Local connections make all the difference. Especially in Silicon Valley. Get a head start with a local partner to guide you and create connections. Innovation …
Making friends and influencing people in Silicon Valley? Use a local connector. Read More »
2020 Census: Let’s count everyone.
Who do you trust for advice? Probably someone you already know who shares your values and concerns. How can such trust encourage more people to take …
A smart way to find addresses of people to persuade.
Ready. Aim. Fire. Accurate targeting matters. That’s why businesses spend billions for the best data to target their outreach. It’s the same with campaigns: data quality will …
A smart way to find addresses of people to persuade. Read More »
Free resource to locate potential swing voters (and more)
Finding swing voters is hard. Locating people with specific traits, has typically required money, time and technical skills – putting it out of the reach …
Free resource to locate potential swing voters (and more) Read More »
Speaking truth to power – Through digital storytelling.
Powerful corporations hire marketing experts and lobbyists to push their agenda. How does a small community group get the truth heard in such an uneven fight? Here …
Speaking truth to power – Through digital storytelling. Read More »
See something, say something using technology to report voting problems
The midterm elections showed the need to expose voter problems in real time, on election day, in time to do something. We need a new …
See something, say something using technology to report voting problems Read More »
‘Sí, Se Puede’. Spanish-Speaking Chatbots Offer Voter ID Advice.
Voter ID regulations can be confusing – especially when English isn’t your first language. They vary by state and often change at short notice. How can …
‘Sí, Se Puede’. Spanish-Speaking Chatbots Offer Voter ID Advice. Read More »
See something. Say something. Especially at polling centers.
“See something – Say something”. We see this at airports and on public transportation. So why not do the same while we are trying to …
See something. Say something. Especially at polling centers. Read More »
Uber can immediately match passengers with drivers nearby. Their technology works. So why is it so hard to easily find out about rallies and events …
Use the news cycle to amplify your marketing
Winning marketing campaigns successfully surf the wave. The message goes further with less effort. Marketing campaigns aligned with the news, increase the odds of getting picked up …
Many people don’t vote because they can’t get to their polling center. Several groups offer rides, but requesting a ride is often the bottleneck. Many rural voters have neither internet access nor …
A better way to collect videos for your campaign
Personal stories cut through indifference and can drive people to act. They’re especially powerful when shared as videos on social media. This Everytown For Gun Safety video is compelling – and …
A better way to collect videos for your campaign Read More »
Customized campaign videos made simple
Campaign videos work, but many campaigns have neither the budget nor the expertise to create their own. Ideally a single campaign video could be adapted for …
It’s ironic: the same technology companies use to slash their workforce is also being used to organize workers demanding fair treatment. Automation is eliminating jobs …
How many Facebook discussions are hijacked by trolls? Bots flood discussions with hundreds of messages, drowning out real participants. How can conversations be kept civil in …
Attention spans are shorter. Complex issues have to be simplified and told persuasively to get people to act. Videos are engaging and informative, but they aren’t interactive. Infographics …
Uber does it. Lyft does it. Send drivers to where there’s known demand – rather than going to the same old locations as many cabs do. …
“GoFundMe raises thousands to place billboard of Trump’s anti-Cruz tweet in Texas”. Where exactly should you place a billboard to reach the people you want to target? …
Just as with any interaction, people respond better when you speak their language and reply personally to their questions. How’s this done online with thousands …
What I learned at DEFCON about voting machine hacks
Hackers, corporate IT professionals, and three letter government agencies all converge on Las Vegas every summer to absorb cutting edge hacking research at DEFCON. The Vote Hacking Village with a focus …
What I learned at DEFCON about voting machine hacks Read More »
Don’t talk to strangers. Especially if they’re sending you phishing emails. Hackers trick you into opening phishing emails by pretending to be from a trusted source. This often starts …
Five million Native Americans live in battleground states such as Arizona, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada and North/South Dakota. They could have a big impact in the midterms – if they voted. But …
DC and Silicon Valley are thousands of miles apart – in more ways than one. But when the two connect, good things happen. Voter Participation Center …
“An Arizona women was suffering a miscarriage and her pharmacist refused to fill her prescription because he decided that his beliefs were more important than what she …
Donations are just one way to support the causes you believe in. Programmers with more creativity than cash, can support their values by restricting how their software can …
Phishing attacks have blown up many Democratic campaigns and are still widely used to steal log-in credentials. Consider Google’s free Advanced Protection service to safeguard your data. And if you still think you’re safe, …
Alexa, what ID do I need to vote?
Over 25 million eligible voters lacking the right Voter ID may be prevented from voting. And getting an acceptable ID in thirty four states with Voter ID laws is both confusing and …
The Supreme Court just ruled aggressive purging of voter rolls. “States can now kick people off the rolls if they skip a few elections and …
When you have a solid track record of results, let the facts speak for themselves. The Tester campaign just launched an interactive StoryMap to highlight …
Join The Search Party For Fifty Million Unregistered Voters
There are FIFTY million unregistered voters in America! The number of voters is being threatened with voter roll purges and restrictive voter ID policies. Every …
Join The Search Party For Fifty Million Unregistered Voters Read More »
All Votes Count. Some Just Count More Than Others.
The right to vote is under attack. Confusing requirements and other hurdles are designed to discourage specific groups from voting. And turnout drops with voter suppression, as the 2016 election …
All Votes Count. Some Just Count More Than Others. Read More »
You’re suddenly stopped for questioning…
People get stopped for questioning anywhere these days – speaking Spanish in Montana or resembling someone in Oregon. Others encounter sexual harassment, racial discrimination, voter …
11% of voting-age U.S. citizens don’t have a current government-issued photo ID. That’s roughly 25 million voters in 34 states who don’t have an acceptable …
When Super Bowl ads are more compelling than campaign messages, we have a problem. How can we appeal to people’s values across the political spectrum? …
Training new campaign volunteers is hard. They’re often remote, pressed for time and difficult to schedule. Online learning platforms are affordable and offer training on demand. Campaigns struggle to train volunteers as in-person training …
FedEx does it. Uber does it – optimize delivery routes with better software.How can campaigns up their game so canvassers spend less time walking and more time talking with people? …
Attention spans are short. Your call to action has to be clear and compelling. You should both show & tell. Story Maps can help. They combine facts, figures and timelines into a …
Good oppo research requires experience and manpower – two things in short supply. A new group meets these needs by combining the savvy of campaign veterans with the energy of online volunteers. This lowers …
Why is it so hard for some seniors to vote? Could the locations of polling centers be influencing turnout? You make the call. Case Study We decided …
There is a better way. But it’s hard to find when you’re busy. That’s where DemLabs comes in. We test new apps in campaigns and …
Getting Arms To The Front Lines
Why do so many progressive campaigns in the real world still use yesterday’s technology? Campaigns over-spend on out-of-date software. Startups struggle to get new apps to …
What Your Campaign Can Learn From Starbucks
The success or failure of a new store depends on how close it is to its best customers. In the “old days”, the placement of …
2018! It’s finally “midterm election” year and DemLabs is geared up with some New Ways to Win! We are excited to introduce you to a …
How to Use Facebook to Nudge Low Propensity Voters to the Polls
Low-propensity voters are an elusive target, but they’re often the margin for victory. Could sales techniques on social media be applied to increase LP voter …
How to Use Facebook to Nudge Low Propensity Voters to the Polls Read More »
Open Media Project Increases Government Transparency with Technology
A naive and idealistic man is appointed to fill a vacancy in the U.S. Senate. His plans promptly collide with political corruption, but he doesn’t …
Open Media Project Increases Government Transparency with Technology Read More »
How Tech Activists Harness Purchasing Power to Bring About Change
Money talks. Companies listen when millions of customers boycott their products and services. Peaceful, economic mass-protests aren’t new. Gandhi and Martin Luther Kings Jr. used …
How Tech Activists Harness Purchasing Power to Bring About Change Read More »
Is Open Source the Transformative Solution for Activism?
Organizing public rallies really is rocket science. A successful launch needs careful planning and good software. Especially when highly vocal users are involved! How well …
Is Open Source the Transformative Solution for Activism? Read More »
Resisting? Running for office? Get trained online, you will.
Darkness is in the air. The Rebel Alliance is hopelessly outmatched. The Empire terrorizes the galaxy. The rebels train to fight back. The ‘force’ is …
Resisting? Running for office? Get trained online, you will. Read More »
Designing a Facebook campaign to advocate for better opioid care
It’s 1943 and the German air superiority has devastated the Allied forces. The Allies lack the planes to fight the Luftwaffe directly. The U.S. Army Air …
Designing a Facebook campaign to advocate for better opioid care Read More »
The Revolution Will Not Be Televised – It’ll be Computerized
Imagine that you have millions of supporters eager to help your cause. You only have a few weeks to get organized and hardly any existing …
The Revolution Will Not Be Televised – It’ll be Computerized Read More »